CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer grabbed a huge three points Sunday as the Bearcats defeated visiting UCF, 1-0, thanks to the first collegiate goal scored by freshman Ashley Barren in an American Athletic Conference match inside Gettler Stadium. With the victory, the Bearcats moved to 7-8-2 overall and 5-3-0 in the AAC and assured themselves of playing host to an opening round AAC Tournament game in one week. The Knights fell to 9-3-4 overall and 4-2-2 in the league.
// NOTING THE MATCH
• Cincinnati improved to 7-8-2 on the year and 5-3-0 in the AAC while UCF fell to 9-3-4 overall and 4-2-2 in the league
• The win today squared the all-time series at 4-4-2 with UC moving to 3-0-2 all-time against UCF in Cincinnati
• UCF is receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25
• Today was the 31st Sunday home match under Neil Stafford with his Bearcats improving to 25-2-4 on 'Sunday Fun Day' and outscoring those foes, 59-20, as well
• Cincinnati is now 39-12-14 under Stafford in all home matches and is outscoring foes, 99-48 (+51), in those matches
• With the win, the Bearcats are now 5-3-0 in conference play, tying for the most AAC wins in a single season since joining the league in 2013 (2015 was 5-3-1 & 2017 was 5-2-2)
• With 15 points in the AAC, the Bearcats two shy of the single-season record of 17 earned in 2017, meaning a win Thursday over visiting ECU in the finale would break the record (18)
• Not only did Barron score the goal for UC, she scored her first collegiate goal, recorded her first collegiate points and registered her first collegiate game-winner as well
• Costigan registered her fourth assist of the season after entering the year with one goal, two assists and four total points in her first three years for the Bearcats
• Despite not being called upon to make a save (several attempts in front of her were blocked by the defense), Madison Less recorded her seventh shutout of the year and the 15th of her career, which ranks as the tied for seventh and seventh, respectively, in UC history
// SCORING SUMMARY
49' • The Bearcats were working the ball down the left side and earned a throw in with Karli Royer putting the ball back into play and Han Tang collecting the pass, only to be fouled from behind. The ball was set with Costigan standing over it with the senior sending the pass into the area toward the back post. Barron burst through the line and was the first to the ball, heading it home to put the Bearcats ahead with what would eventually stand as the game-winner.
// HEAD BARRON
Barron's header was the first points of her career and made her the fifth different UC player to record their first goal this season, including Han Tang (5 goals), Camryn Hartman (2), Ying Zhan (1) and Libby Greenwell (1). Of those opening accounts, Hartman has tallied two game-winners while both the rookies, Barron and Tang, have recorded won game-winner each.
// HAPPY TO HELP
Entering the year, Costigan had four total points to her credit with an assist in 2016 and both one goal and one assist last year. The defensive stalwart has had a big impact on set pieces this year as her pass in to Barron was the fourth assist of her senior campaign. That total ties the season high for the Bearcats in each of the past three seasons.
// CLEAN SHEETS
Less was not credited with a save on the day with the defense in front of her - as well as the woodwork - helped keep UCF off the board. Less was able to snare several passes out of the air to prevent scoring chances as the defense blocked several chances. UCF also was unlucky twice as one ball hit the crossbar and another the post. Overall, Less is credited with the seventh shutout of her season and the 15th of her career, both of which rank seventh in program history. Additionally, this year's 7.0 clean sheets ties her single-season best after she also posted 7.0 in 2017.
// AROUND THE LEAGUE
With today's results, the Bearcats assured they will finish either third or fourth on the table this year. Memphis (22 points) and USF (21) are the Top 2 teams with the Tigers facing Tulsa and the Bulls facing UCF Thursday. Below the Knights (4th on 14 points) is a log-jam of teams as both SMU and Houston are tied for fifth on nine points; ECU, Temple and UConn are tied for seventh on 7 points; and Tulsa is 10th on 6 points. If the tournament field was decided today, UC would be third and would play host to either SMU or Houston (depending upon tiebreakers as they play their only head-to-head match Thursday) while UCF would play host to the other Texas school.
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats close out the regular season Thursday night at 8 p.m. when the Pirates of ECU visit Gettler Stadium. The match, as well as the remaining four around the league that night, will determine the final seeding in the AAC Tournament and whom the Bearcats will play host to three days later in the AAC First Round.
Barron’s First Career Goal Leads Bearcats to 1-0 Victory
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer grabbed a huge three points Sunday as the Bearcats defeated visiting UCF, 1-0, thanks to the first collegiate goal scored by freshman Ashley Barren in an American Athletic Conference match inside Gettler Stadium.
